President Obama’s Re-Election is a Victory for Clean Air and Clean Energy

Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, declared Tuesday’s re-election of President Barack Obama a major victory for the environment. Governor Mitt Romney, she wites, ran on “a platform of more drilling, more coal-fired power plants, more climate paralysis, and weaker pollution standards.” The people have spoken and they have chosen to support and continue President Obama’s efforts towards clean air, clean energy, and mitigating climate change.

Energy issues and climate change have been on the mind of voters. It was one of the top three topics discussed in campaign ads. But more immediate reminders of climate change, such a Hurricane Sandy, droughts, wild fires, and other natural disasters have made clean air and clean energy a more urgent concern for people. Beinecke cites that Hart Research Associates found that nine out of 10 Americans say developing renewable energy should be a priority for the president and Congress, and that includes 85 percent of Republicans and 89 percent of Independents. And a survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center found that 80 percent of car owners want to raise fuel efficiency standards to 55 miles per gallon by 2025.

Though President Obama has pushed forward legislation for clean air and clean energy in his first term, such as issuing fuel economy standards that will cut carbon pollution from new cars in half and proposing the first-ever limits on carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants, there is still much work to be done. Beinecke calls for the President to extend incentives for wind energy and spur investment in clean energy research. She also urges the administration to promote energy efficiency standards for buildings and appliances more rigorously.